#1 Republican Goal: Make the Rich Richer

First of all, as I almost always feel I need to do when writing about politics, when I refer to Republicans here, I’m referring to the Republicans in office or running for office, not Republican voters (I think there’s a big difference between the two, but that voters are essentially tricked by the politicians straight lies and hidden actions). Now, on to the story:

Really, this is nothing new, but every once it a while, the simplicity of it hits me. Republican politicians posture on a number of issues, but they really just seem to be dead set on one goal — making the rich richer.

They consistently want to cut highly popular policies such as policies that clean our air, clean our water, create jobs, and help us to compete in the key industry of the 21st century, clean energy. And why do they want to do so? For no other reason than the fact that cleaning our air, cleaning our water, and creating jobs means the rich take home less money. They work for the rich, and the rich only.

Now, this all struck me yet again while looking at the Center for American Progress’ timeline of the deficit talks (below). It’s really striking. Top Republicans will cut EVERYTHING except for taxes on the rich. They will cut Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, clean air protections, clean water protections, policies that keep us in the clean energy race and create jobs, and even the amount of money the poor and middle class take home after taxes. But they won’t let anyone cut the amount of money the rich take home after taxes. They want to extend the Bush tax cuts for the rich at any cost.

Is there any wonder why millions of people are expressing their frustration with the system through the Occupy Wall Street movement?

Republicans (largely, but also some Democrats) have hijacked the system to only benefit the rich, and they are even willing to hold the whole country hostage to keep that the way it is.

July 19, 2011: The Gang of Six proposes a $4 trillion deficit reduction plan, including $2 trillion revenue.

July 22, 2011: Again, Speaker Boehner walks away from negotiations after President Obama offers $1.2 trillion in revenues and $1.6 trillion in spending cuts, including entitlements.

July 31, 2011: Debt ceiling agreement is reached, cutting $1 trillion in spending immediately and establishing the super committee to reduce deficits by at least an additional $1.2 trillion.

October 26, 2011: Democrats first super committee offer is $3 trillion in deficit reduction comprised of about $1.3 trillion in revenues and $1.7 trillion in spending cuts, including cuts to Medicare and Medicaid. Republicans immediately reject it. Republicans’ first super committee offer is $2.2 trillion in deficit reduction that includes no new tax revenues.

November 8, 2011: Republicans’ second super committee offer is $1.5 trillion in deficit reduction. It does include $300 billion in new tax revenue, but in exchange for extending the Bush tax cuts and lowering the top tax rate. The plan would ultimately cut taxes for the wealthy and raise them for everyone else.

November 10, 2011: Democrats’ second offer is $2.3 trillion in deficit reduction, consisting of $1.3 trillion in spending cuts and $1 trillion in revenue. The revenue would be split between $350 billion in concrete measures and $650 billion in future tax reform. Republicans reject it.

November 11, 2011: Democrats agree to Republicans’ top lines including just $400 billion in revenues and $875 billion in spending cuts, but refuse to accept the GOP’s tax cut for the rich. Republicans reject it and make their final offer: $640 billion in spending cuts and $3 billion in revenues.

About the Author

Zachary Shahan is the director of CleanTechnica, the most popular cleantech-focused website in the world, and Planetsave, a world-leading green and science news site. He has been covering green news of various sorts since 2008, and he has been especially focused on solar energy, electric vehicles, and wind energy since 2009.
Aside from his work on CleanTechnica and Planetsave, he's the founder and director of Solar Love, EV Obsession, and Bikocity.
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one of the first steps is to get rid of the millionaires that hold office, Second step is to geet rid of the lobbiesk and the third is to take corporate money out of our elections. The fourth is to reinsert the safe guards that helped keep Wall Street honest.

Mark, I’m not sure that what you’re suggesting is possible. First, has Wall Street ever been honest? I doubt it. You don’t get rich and powerful in this world by being a Boy Scout. Also, I’m not catagorically against lobbyists. The HSUS, NRDC, and other organizations lobby congress in order to make their voices heard. There is nothing wrong with this. The problem is corrupt politicians who are easily bribed by powerful interests, and those who put the profit of a few over the health and well-being of the many. So, basically, everyone in Washington I suppose.

DallasGaytheist

Zach: “I’m referring to the Republicans in office or running for office, not Republican voters (I think there’s a big difference between the two, but that voters are essentially tricked by the politicians straight lies and hidden actions). ”

Seriously Zach? So you think that republican voters are just decent. well-intentioned people who are just too dumb to realize that they’re having the wool pulled over their eyes? I tell you that they are not, and you’re being naive to think so.

i definitely don’t think they all are. some Republicans are decent people (and some obviously aren’t), but i don’t want to demonize half the U.S. population (.. just the folks i know about who are ruining our country.)

Dallas Gaytheist

IMO, it is not about demonizing anyone. Rather, it is about holding people accountable for their decisions — the few things we are able to decide for ourselves in life. For example, I am an American male, but it is ridiculous to hold me accountable for every wrongdoing perpetrated by Americans or by males, as I had no personal choice or responsibility in being either. However, when it comes to politics, religion, and other worldviews, these are things we do choose (as adults, not as children where they are thrust upon us) and things we should be held accountable for. Bush left the country in terrible shape, in economic trouble, and he squandered the lives of many Americans, Iraqis, and Afghans. Yet republicans consistently fail to acknowledge their role in this after they voted for him — twice! They dismiss the evidence, downplay the consequences, and shirk any responsibility for their actions. Additionally, tax cuts for the wealthy HAVE NOT created jobs, as promoted by the right., and yet they refuse to acknowledge this as well. This is willful ignorance, and it is destructive to our society. Of course, democrats can be guilty of this too, but the problem is not which party you belong to, but which worldview you cling too, even when that worldview has consistently proven itself ineffective and outright dishonest — which basically sums up conservatism, imo.

But, perhaps the point you are arguing against is my point that Republican voters are tricked.

The point of that is that, yes, they don’t do a lot of independent research, but that Republican politicians tell them one thing while doing another, and tell them things like the wealth will trickle down, when they know it won’t, and basically tell them whatever they want to hear, not matter if they know it’s a lie or not.

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